When Joshua Safran was four years old, his mother--determined to protect him from the threats of nuclear war and Ronald Reagan--took to the open road with her young son, leaving the San Francisco countercultural scene behind. Together they embarked on a journey to find a utopia they could call home. In Free Spirit, Safran tells the harrowing, yet wryly funny story of his childhood chasing this perfect life off the grid--and how they survived the imperfect one they found instead.

Encountering a cast of strange and humorous characters along the way, Joshua spends his early years living in a series of makeshift homes, including shacks, teepees, buses, and a lean-to on a stump. His colorful youth darkens, however, when his mother marries an alcoholic and abusive guerrilla/poet.

Throughout it all, Joshua yearns for a "normal" life, but when he finally reenters society through school, he finds "America" a difficult and confusing place. Years spent living in the wilderness and discussing Marxism have not prepared him for the Darwinian world of teenagers, and he finds himself bullied and beaten by classmates who don't share his mother's belief about reveling in one's differences.

Eventually, Joshua finds the strength to fight back against his tormentors, both in school and at home, and helps his mother find peace. But Free Spirit is more than just a coming-of-age story. It is also a journey of the spirit, as he reconnects with his Jewish roots; a tale of overcoming adversity; and a captivating read about a childhood unlike any other.

Praise For Free Spirit…

"Instantly captivating, heartbreaking, inspiring...[An] almost-too-crazy-to-be-true story. This book is nothing short of remarkable."—Elle Magazine, "Readers' Pick"

"With engaging story after story and a healthy dose of narrative tension throughout, Safran all but turns the pages for you."—San Francisco Chronicle

"An enthusiastic, bounding picaresque...Safran is funny, engaging and a great storyteller."—Jewish Daily Forward

"Poetic, and compelling...In this important book, Safran offers up the wounds of a flower child, and every frayed petal is astonishingly beautiful."—Gulf Stream

"A remarkable account of survival despite the odds."—Kirkus Reviews

"Joshua Safran's Free Spirit provides a mesmerizing coming-of-age story for one of the next generation's most inspired spiritual progressives."—Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor, Tikkun, and Chair, The Network of Spiritual Progressives

"Free Spirit is a stranger-than-fiction look at an absolutely fascinating childhood."—Sam Apple, author of Schlepping Through the Alps

"Haunting and beautifully written, Free Spirit draws you into the gritty, white-knuckle ride that was Joshua Safran's childhood. Spellbinding. A must-read."—Liz Murray, author of the New York Times bestseller Breaking Night

"Rich in detail, humor, and compassion, Free Spirit is an eloquent coming-of-age story about a mother's well-intentioned, but flawed, search for utopia and the impact her chaotic journey had on her son. Thankfully, Joshua Safran emerges from his impoverished, rootless childhood resilient, resourceful, and wise. A transformative book."—Mira Bartók, author of National Book Critics Circle Award winner The Memory Palace

"Some writers search everywhere for a great story, and others have a great story happen to them. Joshua Safran's tale of his upbringing among radicals, revolutionaries, and renegades is equal parts hilarious and touching. Strap yourself into the green bus for a whirlwind tour of the American underground through the eyes of an impressionable young storyteller-to-be."—Thomas Mullen, author of The Last Town on Earth